Particulate food depositor

Abstract

A depositor is provided for the feeding or distribution of particulate food pieces, as for example, raisins, nutmeats, etc. The depositor includes a pair of superposed screws positioned in a hopper over an outlet screen member. By oscillating rotational movement of the screws, the particulates are fed from the hopper through the screen onto a dough sheet or the like under the depositor.

What is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for depositing particulate materials, said apparatus comprising: a hopper means having an inlet opening and a lower disposed outlet; a perforate member positioned adjacent said outlet;   a plurality of feed screws positioned in said hopper means adjacent said outlet with the said plurality of screws being in generally superposed relationship, said plurality of screws including at least a first screw and a second screw with said first screw being positioned lower in said hopper than said second screw; and   drive means operably connected to said first and second screws to effect rotation thereof, said drive means being such as to automatically and intermittently reverse the direction of rotation of at least said first screw at preselected intervals.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said drive means is effective to intermittantly reverse said first and second screws.   
     
     
       3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 or 2 wherein: said drive means is effective to intermittently reverse the direction of rotation less than about every three revolutions.   
     
     
       4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 or 2 wherein: said perforate member has imperforate sections at opposite ends, thereof, adjacent opposite ends of said first screw.   
     
     
       5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 or 2 wherein: the outer diameter of said first screw is in the range of between about one inch to about four inches and the outer diameter of said second screw is in the range of between about two inches and about five inches.   
     
     
       6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein: the ratio of the diameter of the first screw to the second screw is in the range of between about 1:1 and about 1:3.   
     
     
       7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein: the gap A of the first shaft is in the range of between about 1/4 inch and about one inch and the gap B of the second screw is in the range of between about 3/4 inch and about 11/2 inch and the gaps C & D of the first and second screws respectively, are in the range of between about 1/16 inch and about 1/2 inch.   
     
     
       8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 or 2 wherein: said drive means being effective to provide a rotational speed for said first screw in the range of between about 20 rpm and 200 rpm.